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  Discussion on Bump on colts face
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New Member:
snarc

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 8:39 pm:

I have a yearling colt with a huge lump on his face. This appeared a few weeks ago and has seemed unchanged until yesterday. It has doubled in size. It is not hot to the touch, does not appear mushy or soft, no hair loss, no affect on his eating habits, no apparent injury or entry point of foreign objects. I am baffled!
Member:
mitch316

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 9:16 pm:

Stacey, I could tell you a bunch of things it COULD be, but that would get you overworried. Before spending a lot of time and money on it, try this: squeeze from two sides (very lightly, you don't want it to rupture), and look carefully at the very center and see if there is a tiny, tiny hole. Then check to see if a bee stinger is in it (happened before, so its worth a look). The heat suggests inflammation of some sort...I really can't say much without seeing it. I can't remember whether cysts are warm to the touch, but I don't think so. Has he had a tetanus shot? Are there any protruding nails sticking through the walls of his stall? You would not believe the nasty things that can live on the end of a rusty nail! I would play the watch and wait game if it is not really interfering with his quality of life, but the docs on here might say otherwise, but am sure they would want to see it as well.
New Member:
snarc

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 9:28 pm:

Maybe I missed the mark.... It is NOT hot to the touch. It is a very hard lump. Stalls are in good shape, he is pastured with a mare and two older geldings.
Member:
pattyb

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 9:31 pm:

My Arab/Paint had a lump on his face when he was younger that turned out to be a cyst...that had been drained and hidden by the breeder. When I noticed it, it was refilling. My vet said they are not all that uncommon in young ones but the cyst capsule had to be removed in order for it to not fill back up. Had it done and there is no visible scar to remind me where it used to be (4+years ago).
Member:
mitch316

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 10:26 pm:

Stacey, you didn't miss the mark, I did!! Sorry but I read it wrong. I would then agree with Patty about the cyst. We usually remove those, and if wanted send them in for testing, but that is only if the owner insists or upon dissection the cyst isn't "normal" (if a cyst can be called normal, ha). I was doing some reading, and it does seem that paint's have these pretty often, especially some of the western lineages. Have no idea why. Out here in the backwoods of Kentucky, it would cost around $75-100 to have it removed, and like patty said, it will leave little or no mark unless it is really big. They can cause problems too, so I would definitely have it removed.
New Member:
snarc

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 11:21 pm:

Would a cyst be really hard?
Member:
pattyb

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 11:35 pm:

Hi Jesse......you're right, I forgot about Paints being more vulnerable to them, especially when they're young.

Stacey, the lump that Ziggy had felt a lot like a marble and it got bigger the longer it sat there. When it was removed, it came out intact as a fluid filled lump. Once it was removed, there was nothing left to grow back. And now that I think of it, it was a very normal looking cyst so, there was no added expense for lab analysis.

If it is a cyst, removal is the only way to get rid of it. If you just drain all the fluid out, it will fill right back up, In Ziggy's case, it started to appear about a month after I had him delivered here.

I hope that helps. If I remember, it cost about $100.00 here 5 years ago to have it removed.
Member:
mitch316

Posted on Friday, Feb 20, 2009 - 6:29 pm:

Stacey, a cyst would be really hard unless it was draining. Patty is right about the removal- it will keep coming back if it is not totally removed. It is a pretty straight forward procedure. Some people believe that an untreated cyst would turn into a tumor, but I believe that is just an old wives tale.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Feb 20, 2009 - 9:10 pm:

Welcome stacey,
I am afraid there are just too many possibilities to guess. Knowing its location might help but still would not diagnose it. Posting a picture might help but you should get your veterinarian out to look at this. An article that might help you is Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Swellings / Localized Infection / Abscesses » Diagnosing and Assessing Swellings in Horses. It has a image of a horse's face with typical swellings and their locations and possible causes.
DrO
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